KATHMANDU: The Federal Civil Service Bill, aimed at regulating the structure, operation, and service conditions of Nepal’s civil service, was unanimously passed by the State Affairs and Good Governance Committee of the House of Representatives on Friday.

Registered on 21st Falgun 2080 B.S., the bill underwent theoretical discussions before being forwarded for clause-wise deliberation on 15th Jestha 2081 B.S. It received 1,583 amendment proposals in 124 groups, which were reviewed and consolidated during discussions, leading to its endorsement.

The bill introduces key provisions, including a two-year cooling-off period for civil servants and a restructured administrative hierarchy.A new position of Additional Secretary has been created, positioned between Joint Secretary and Secretary. The ranking is structured as 13th Level: Additional Secretary, 14th Level: Secretary, and 15th Level: Chief Secretary, with all three classified as Special Gazetted Posts.

Another significant change is the extension of the retirement age for civil servants from 58 to 60 years, aiming to retain experienced personnel and address administrative gaps. This increase will be implemented gradually, extending by one year each phase.

The bill also introduces structured Provincial Administrative Arrangements, where the Provincial Chief Secretary falls under the federal structure, and Provincial Secretaries operate under provincial governance.

Additionally, the maximum entry age for civil service positions is set at 35 years for men and 39 years for women. A provision for a one-time inter-provincial transfer for local-level employees has also been introduced to enhance mobility and address administrative needs across provinces.